Once upon a time in Ada
Things you didn’t know about your own hometown
By Lee Crouse
[email protected]

March 3, 1912 the Business Men’s Club was organized. W.C. Ewing was the first president. In 1914 this organization formulated plans for the first Farmers & Merchants Picnic.

July 1912 J.M. Clayton organized a group of boys 10 to 12 years of age into the A.R. ( all around boys) club. Unofficially they were Ada’s first cub scout troop. Members were, Howard Kirby, Stanley Foss, Norman Ross, Merl Mertz, Stanley Miller, Lowell Snyder, Harley Barrett, Rudford Wilson, Waldo Wollam, Lyle Scoles, Carlin Wilson, Ben Jones and Roland Haynes.

July 1912 Mrs. Alice J. Stout of Ada was the first woman candidate for state representative from Hardin county.

October 23rd to the 26th was held the unique and stimulating event; unique because none like it was ever held in Ada; stimulating because the object is to honor the founder and pay a word of tribute to those whose subscriptions, large and small, from far and near, have brought the Lehr Memorial Fund up to the magnificent sum of more than $50,000. The object therein is educational, inspirational and social. On the 26th the sod was cut for the Lehr Memorial building at Ohio Northern University.